Vocational education cooperation grows

The China (Chongqing)-ASEAN Vocational Education and High-Quality Development Forum was held in Chongqing's Yongchuan district on Sept 27, 2023. [Photo by Deng Rui/For China Daily]

China's international cooperation in vocational education is developing rapidly, as 164 schools and companies from 14 countries and regions that joined an alliance, launched by Chongqing and Sichuan province, demonstrated recently.

Last Friday, the International Land-Sea Trade Corridor Vocational Education International Cooperation Alliance held its annual conference in Chongqing and announced a slew of programs, including the setting up of the Deves Future Technology School in Sri Lanka.

Facing a changing manufacturing landscape and increasing demand for skilled workers, the Chinese government is calling for investment in vocational education with urgency to improve the technical capabilities of its workforce.

In order to fulfill its needs, China is looking to its partners around the world to deepen cooperation in vocational training and create a regional development community for vocational training and economic integration, especially in the countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.

The ILSTC is a major international logistics project built by provincial-level regions in western China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states.

Founded in 2021, the alliance has attracted members from Indonesia, New Zealand, South Korea, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, the Philippines, Pakistan, Australia and Singapore.

Chongqing Industry Polytechnic College, one of the founding members of the alliance, worked with the Lao-German Technical Vocational College last year to set up a Panda College program, which introduces China's vocational training to Lao students.

Chongqing, a major auto manufacturing base in China, has a wealth of experience in the auto industry. So, the first training project focuses on vehicle inspection and maintenance.

"We hope to explore a way to help developing countries with their vocational education and make Chinese vocational training a world renowned brand," said Qin Chuanjiang, deputy director of Chongqing Industry Polytechnic College.

China has built the world's largest vocational education system, emphasizing both degree programs and vocational training, according to a report by the Ministry of Education.

Khamsavay Gnommilavong, director of the Lao-German Technical Vocational College, said that his school has learned a lot from Chinese counterparts in vocational education and the joint program will nurture a large number of skilled workers with technologies and abilities that meet international standards.

The alliance has established five Panda Workshops in three countries offering Chinese language and vocational skills training to 240 teachers and over 600 corporate personnel.